2014 Texas On Tour Hits the Road Promoting Texas Vacations
Exhibit Includes Live Texas Music and Interactive Gaming Experiences

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Tourism is hitting the road this summer with its 2014 Texas on Tour, an experiential traveling exhibit showcasing the exciting and diverse travel experiences found in the Lone Star State. The nationwide tour kicks off on June 5 at the CMA Festival in Nashville, Tenn. and will make 13 stops across the U.S. before concluding in October. The traveling exhibit includes five updated interactive gaming experiences that focus on family attractions, beaches, ranches and rodeos, outdoor adventures and music.

New to the 2014 tour is a live music stage showcasing some of the amazing musical talent found in Texas, including three former fan favorite contestants from NBC's "The Voice."

Holly Tucker, a true Texas country artist, recorded her first CD at age 14 and finished in the top six on season four of "The Voice," representing country singer Blake Shelton.

Tje (Tye) Austin, another former contestant on "The Voice," is an R&B singer from Austin whose soulful sounds grabbed the attention of CeeLo Green on the show's first season. Tje has opened for Grammy award nominees including Trey Songz.

Jonny Gray, an Austin artist and Air Force veteran, was a 'Team CeeLo Green' competitor on "The Voice's" fifth season. During SXSW in March 2014, Jonny won 3 awards at the Austin Chronicle's Music Awards taking home 'Male Vocalist of the Year' and 'Song of the Year.'

SaulPaul hails from Houston and has received attention from the likes of SXSW and ESPN Radio for his unique rapping style. The "Musician with a Message" was recently selected as a Creative Ambassador for the City of Austin.

"We are excited to take Texas on the road giving people a chance to discover Texas on Tour, which will not only visually transport guests to Texas but give them a taste of the state's talented local artists," said Texas Tourism Director Brad Smyth. "We are always looking to introduce travelers to the best of Texas, from the iconic to the unexpected. This year, the addition of the music stage allows us to bring some of our premier local artists to regions across the country."

As the exhibit travels the U.S. it will make stops at identified source markets for travelers to Texas, including:

Texas on Tour Stop

Dates

Location

Musical Performance

CMA Festival

June 5 – 8

Nashville, TN

Holly Tucker

BBQ Battle

June 21 – 22

Washington, DC

SaulPaul

Summerfest

June 25 – 29

Milwaukee, WI

SaulPaul

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

July 4 – 6

Denver, CO

Tje Austin

Orange County Fair

July 11 – 13

Costa Mesa, CA

SaulPaul

Bite of Seattle

July 18 – 20

Seattle, WA

Tje Austin

Ohio State Fair

July 30 – August 3

Columbus, OH

Jonny Gray

Musikfest

August 8 – 10

Bethlehem, PA

SaulPaul

Chicago Air & Water

August 16 – 17

Chicago, IL

SaulPaul

Minnesota State Fair

August 21 – September 1

Minneapolis, MN

Jonny Gray

The Big E

September 12 – 16

West Springfield, MA

Tje Austin

Taste of St. Louis

September 26 – 28

St. Louis, MO

Holly Tucker

Georgia National Fair

October 2 – 5

Perry, GA

Holly Tucker

The sights and sounds of Texas will make guests feel as if they've stepped into the Lone Star State, and attendees will receive an all-access passport that serves as their ticket to the exhibit's activities. Once activated, the passport acts as an interactive guide highlighting the many vacation experiences Texas has to offer.

Interactive gaming experiences are all played on touchscreen monitors and include:

Dolphin Trainer Visitors have the unique opportunity to virtually serve as a professional dolphin trainer. Visitors are instructed to perform movements that interact with the onscreen dolphin, instructing them to do flips, turns and even reward them with a fish.

Texas Music JukeboxThis Texas music experience allows viewers to explore the rich and unique music scene through a jukebox trivia game. The game features historic Texas venues and the vast variety of music genres available to discover in the Lone Star State.

Jet Ski Obstacle CourseTo experience the 300 miles of Texas beaches, visitors take part in a fast-paced virtual Jet Ski course, navigating around buoys and other water obstacles as they're rated on speed and accuracy collecting stars and bonus starfish.

Cattle DriveTo get a taste of Texas' western heritage and the many guest ranches and rodeos the state offers, visitors to this experience saddle up and try their hand at herding cattle while directing a cowboy where to go onscreen.

Rock ClimbingGuests can reach new heights while learning about all the beautiful outdoor experiences Texas has to offer with a virtual rock climbing experience. Guests will ascend a steep rock face by correctly choosing handholds in order to reach the amazing summit view.

In addition to enjoying live music and participating in these interactive experiences, Texas on Tour visitors will walk away with Texas prizes and will have the opportunity to enter the Texas on Tour Sweepstakes to win their own trip to Texas. The six-day, five-night trip for two includes accommodations and roundtrip air transportation to the Lone Star State, and consumers can also enter the sweepstakes online. The winner will choose one of the following Texas vacation packages: Great Outdoors, Urban Flair and Music, Beach Getaway or Dude Ranch. Participants must be 21 years of age or older to enter the sweepstakes.

Note to Media: An official Texas on Tour spokesperson will be available at tour stops for interviews and media tours. Photography is also available upon request. Please contact Katie Gaskin (512-634-3663 / katie.gaskin@edelman.com) for assistance.

About Texas TourismTexas Tourism's mission is to enhance and extend local economic development efforts by marketing Texas as a premier travel destination in out-of-state domestic and international markets, generating non-Texan travel to the state. Travel and tourism is a cornerstone of the Texas economy with preliminary estimates showing more than $67 billion in spending at destinations across the state in 2013. Travel spending directly supported 599,000 jobs while generating $4.7 billion in state and local taxes.